The night air was cool, crisp with the scent of pine and damp earth as you and your friend made your way deeper into the forest. The only sounds were the crunch of leaves underfoot and the occasional hoot of an owl. You clutched your flashlight tightly, its narrow beam cutting through the thick darkness. The old myth about a demon lurking in these woods had been a part of your hometown’s lore for as long as you could remember—just a spooky story, or so you thought.

Minutes passed in silence, broken only by the rustle of leaves and the occasional snap of a twig underfoot. It was unnervingly quiet for a forest at night, the usual chorus of crickets and other nocturnal creatures conspicuously absent. As you walked further, your flashlight began to flicker.

“Come on, not now,” You muttered, giving it a hard shake. It stabilized for a moment before flickering again, then finally going out completely.

“Are you serious?” You groaned, now engulfed in near-total darkness.

Your friend’s flashlight still worked, but the beam of light looked smaller, dimmer than before. Suddenly, they stopped in their tracks, eyes wide with fear.

A shiver ran down your spine, the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end. You hadn’t seen anything, but the fear in your friend’s voice was enough to make your stomach churn.

Before you could say something, your friend turned on their heel and bolted, disappearing into the darkness. “Wait! Don’t leave me!” You shouted, but they were already gone, their flashlight bouncing in the distance before it, too, faded away.

You were alone. The forest seemed to press in on you, the silence now deafening. Panic surged through you as you fumbled with your broken flashlight, trying in vain to get it to work. You took a deep breath, trying to steady yourself. You could find your way back; you just needed to stay calm.

But then, you heard it—a soft whisper, almost like the wind, but more… deliberate. It sent a cold shiver down your spine.